Two-time All-Star and fan-favorite Stephen Vogt has made up our minds to retire from Major League Baseball on the finish of the 2022 season. The veteran catcher shared his plans to name it a occupation after ten years within the big-leagues with Janie McCauley of the Associated Press.
Originally a twelfth-round select by way of the Rays in 2007, Vogt made his MLB debut with Tampa in 2012 at age 27, going hitless in all 25 of his at-bats throughout his first season. Traded to Oakland the next April, Vogt noticed his hitless streak prolong to 0-for-32 earlier than in any case connecting on his first hit (a house run).
Despite his gradual get started, Vogt temporarily endeared himself to A’s lovers together with his heroics within the 2013 postseason. Facing Justin Verlander within the 9th inning of a scoreless Game 2 of the ALDS, Vogt covered a unmarried with the bases loaded to stroll off the Tigers or even the sequence at one recreation apiece.
Vogt’s position expanded throughout the 2014 season, logging a complete of 84 video games as a catcher, first baseman, left fielder, proper fielder, and designated hitter. To the music of a .279/.321/.431 slash, Vogt helped propel the A’s to a wild card berth. To this present day, cheers of “I believe in Stephen Vogt!” proceed to ring out at RingCentral Coliseum throughout his plate-appearances — a callback to his authentic stint in inexperienced and gold.
The following few years would see Vogt grow to be one of the vital loyal and productive catchers within the league. From 2014 to 2016, he swatted 41 house runs, drove in 162 runs, and posted a wRC+ of 105, just right for 7th among catchers. Though he spent maximum of his top years at the back of the dish, Vogt persisted to assemble innings in the beginning base, left box, and proper box, for Oakland. His mix of offensive manufacturing with defensive versatility earned him nods to the American League All-Star crew in 2015 and 2016.
The A’s designated Vogt for task in June of 2017 after he struggled throughout the primary part. He completed the season in Milwaukee, the place he collected a .789 OPS for a contending Brewers crew. Just when Vogt regarded as though he was once again on course, a shoulder damage stored him out for all of 2018, threatening his occupation. When the Giants gave him a chance by way of signing him to a minor-league deal at first of 2019, Vogt relished it. He slashed .263/.314/.490, hit 10 house runs in 99 video games, and re-established himself as a productive big-leaguer.
Vogt went directly to spend the COVID-shortened 2020 and the start of 2021 with the Diamondbacks, earlier than being traded to the Atlanta Braves, with whom he earned a World Series ring. Oakland welcomed him again on a one-year contract at first of 2022, the place he’s going to end his enjoying occupation. Altogether, Vogt could have gathered with neatly over 700 video games performed, greater than 500 hits, and just about $14MM earned by the point his season ends. Vogt himself summed up his curler coaster occupation, telling McCauley:
“I haven’t always been the best player. I’ve been one of the best players in the league, I’ve been one of the worst players in the league. I’ve been injured and everywhere in between, I’ve been DFA’d twice, I’ve been traded, I’ve been non-tendered, you name it. I’ve been the guy that knew he was going to have a job next year to the guy that had to fight for his job next year, and just always go out and earn it.”
Though his retirement spells the top of his enjoying occupation, it sort of feels that Vogt won’t be able to steer clear of the sport for lengthy. Renowned for his clubhouse presence and popularity as a cherished teammate, Vogt drew top reward from former A’s (now Padres) supervisor Bob Melvin, who advised McCauley that he’s bullish on Vogt’s managerial attainable: “What he means to a clubhouse is immeasurable… [Vogt] definitely has a future in managing.”
Vogt himself mentioned in 2020 that he’s “always wanted to manage,” so it shouldn’t be a wonder to look him discussed in attainable training and managerial searches down the road.